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Sociolinguistics: Language in Social Context

Explore the relevance of sociolinguistics, the social aspects of language, variability, and cultural influences on communication. Learn about communication components, interaction skills, and cultural knowledge for effective linguistic understanding.

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Sociolinguistics: Language in Social Context

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  1. L23B: Sociolinguistics 2005-2006 Lecturer: Emmogene Budhai-Alvaranga Please Turn off all cellular phones & pagers L23B Website: www.mona.uwi.edu/dllp/courses/l23b

  2. Objectives of the Session • Review some important concepts • Overview of Communication Readings: Downes & Hymes

  3. What is sociolinguistics? As defined by C&J (1997) ‘the study of language in its social context and the study of social life through linguistics’

  4. Sociolinguistics: Is it relevant? (Downes) • language includes not just grammar but also social process • features of language linked to social aspects

  5. Arbitrariness: is a social phenomenon • label/lexical items/expressions dependent on our philosophies/culture

  6. Variability: requires social explanation For example: (taken from Downes) ‘butter’ - meaning (edible, yellow, diary product) - syntactic use: noun ‘a’ ‘the’ sub/obj But different phonetic realizations • RP [b] • Canadian/American ‘budder’ [bdr] • British English/Cockney [br] (working class)

  7. Sociolinguistics Allows us to: • Combine theoretical discoveries with social investigations • Concentrate on performance

  8. Relevance of Sociolinguistics (Hymes) • linguistic theory as a wholistic theory of language entailing the organization of speech and not just grammar. • Speech communities as organizations of ways of speaking not just the distribution of the grammar of a language

  9. Downes (Film 1961) Doreen: She got married yesterday. She looked ever so nice Arthur: What was the bloke like, could y’er smell the drink? He must have been drunk to get married. What did she want to convey? • make a statement • request for action • suggestion • broach the topic

  10. Analyzing Conversation Points to consider… 1. Context 2. Several Interpretations possible 3.  Intentions may be incorrect   4. Speaker can deny 5.  Vague

  11. Interaction: student to teacher at end of term Will you be teaching another course in this programme?

  12. Politeness Salt! Pass the Salt! Would you mind passing the salt please? I think this food could use a little salt. This meal is marvelous! Just a pinch of salt and it would be perfect.

  13. Components of Communication • Linguistic Knowledge • Interaction Skills • Cultural Knowledge

  14. Linguistic Knowledge • verbal elements • non-verbal elements • patterning of elements • range of possible variants • meaning of variants

  15. Interaction Skills • selection of forms • interpretation of forms • discourse organization and processes • norms of interaction and interpretation • strategies for achieving goals

  16. Cultural Knowledge • social structure • values and attitudes

  17. Communicative Competence “underlying systems of knowledge and skill required for communication”

  18. Factors Influencing Selection of Variety/Code: • Speaker/Receiver • Competence • Situation • Topic   • Channel   • Tone

  19. Questions????

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